TLC x Fempreneurs Series: Krishika Bahirwani (Gumazing)

In this special column called the “TLC x Fempreneurs Series”, we will be featuring inspiring Female Entrepreneurs (Fempreneurs) in short. You will be able to have a sneak peek at their mindsets and their daily habits.

Believe in the power of community. On some days when you feel big goals are impossible, or when you feel like giving up, you need to lean on your like-minded community. You can even “borrow” motivation, and in turn “return” with your own inspiring stories to pay it forward.

Meet Krishika Bahirwani (Gumazing)

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your business/brand about? 

Hello, I am Krishika Bahirwani, the Co-Founder and Director of the children’s gummy vitamin brand, Gumazing. Gumazing is is a children’s gummy supplement brand made in Canada. It was launched in 2021 with the goal of providing children with enriching nutrients through great fun and taste.

Gumazing’s features a line of colourful, tasty, and easily chewable gummy vitamins in four different variants including multivitamins, Omega 3, Vitamin C+ Zinc, and Calcium + Vitamin D3 and our central goal is to encourage children to cultivate healthy lifestyles the fun way!

What got you started on your business? 

Along with my husband, Suraj Bahirwani, also the co-founder of Gumazing, I wanted to create a vitamin supplement that could ensure each child cultivates a healthy lifestyle the fun way. Being parents of two children, aged five and 11 respectively, ourselves, we are responsible for their health and we understand how important the wellbeing of our children affects their learning abilities as well.

Specifically, we conceptualised Gumazing in 2019 right after the pandemic set in. Despite the pandemic impeding various production processes, we wanted to launch the gummies on schedule since the pandemic brought renewed attention towards health and immunity. Particularly for parents, many wanted to ensure their children were healthy especially with the pandemic. We wanted to push for the launch of Gumazing at a time where many parents needed a reliable solution to provide their children with the required nutrition for stronger immunity against viruses and our gummies being delicious and chewable would make that process easier for parents.

Before you started on your business, what did you do on a full-time basis?

Before I started Gumazing, I had already been in the pharmaceutical industry for 18 years. I had mostly been involved in the pharmaceutical business by supplying various formulations and medical supplies to hospitals in East and West Africa. Prior to Gumazing, I also founded Eternal Mark, a leading contract manufacturer for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices since 2003, which is also the parent company to Gumazing.

What were some difficulties you faced in your life and how did you overcome them?

Managing Gumazing and my family was possibly one of the biggest challenges in my life. Of course, being a mother is a lifelong responsibility and this is still a challenge I face everyday. However, this difficulty really presented itself to me during my preparation for the launch of Gumazing. While the pandemic already caused manufacturing processes to slow down, my children were also being home-schooled at that point in time, and time management became an issue. I had to juggle my family and work, both of which were very important and also required my full attention. How I overcame this was truly good time management and lots of perseverance. Early mornings and late nights were the norm, but the satisfaction of seeing my children happy, and Gumazing being launched made it worth it in the end.

Who inspires you?

I am a strong believer that everybody around can be an inspiration because each one of us always has something special to offer. Coming from a business family, my first source of inspiration was, and will always be, my father. Similar to my husband, both of these important people in my life are driven entrepreneurs and seek perfection in what they do. The way they love their work and make all their hard work seem effortless is especially inspiring. My sister who is a software engineer and a mother herself, is also a constant inspiration as one who encouraged me to be financially independent and responsible for myself.

What is your vision / personal motto? 

My personal motto is to always work towards my dreams and be the person I want my children to emulate. Sometimes it gets very difficult to balance the various duties in my life, and I always refocus by remembering I have the responsibility to be a good role model for my children and show them how strong a woman can be and what their mother can achieve.

Do you have any word of advice for other ladies who are starting their business/ starting to pursue their dream?

It will not be easy. Many of us ladies have a load of responsibilities especially when it comes to family and work. My advice is to hold fast to your dream. Always remember that the odds do not define us and the satisfaction that comes with overcoming various difficulties to achieve your dreams will be a feeling incomparable to any. For fellow mothers out there, we definitely have to put in double the effort to manage our time, but it will be worth it!

How do you think you can help ladies to feel confident and empowered?

Feeling good and looking good from inside out really is the key to feeling like you can take the world on!

First, you are what you eat. A balanced diet with the right nutrients and, of course, staying hydrated can really make your skin glow from inside out. When you feel good and are healthy, it will show, and it will also make you feel much more confident in yourself. Personally, as a fitness fanatic, I would also recommend incorporating some weekly or even daily exercise which will keep your blood pumping and make you feel refreshed and ready to take the world on!

Additionally, how you dress also helps to build your confidence. For me, I absolutely love fashion and I like to reiterate that dressing well is not simply about following trends, but more importantly about knowing what fits you. Do not be afraid to experiment and find out what matches your personality!

What have you learned recently that you hope the other ladies can take back?

Recently, I have found that women are truly making their presence felt in all fields and industries. Nothing holds us back and nothing should. Women are fully capable of striking a good work and home balance. It is absolutely amazing how Fempreneurs are springing up in various fields and I am positive the next generation will only take this ahead. I hope our fellow ladies will remember that everything is possible and that we are amazing in our own right.

What is one thing you are grateful for?

One thing I am grateful for is my family. As my husband is my fellow co-founder of Gumazing, he understands the challenges I face managing work and the family and is infinitely supportive of me. Sometimes what we need is somebody to support us and understand the challenges we are facing.

What do you do in your free time as self-care? How do you unwind?

Endorphins. Exercise is the best way for me to unwind! I hit the gym every evening after work and personally, strength training is extremely enjoyable. The satisfaction from hitting my gym targets paired with the naturally released endorphins really help me feel good about myself.

I also really love indulging in baking during my free time. Every new recipe that turns out well makes me extremely ecstatic. The lovely buttery aroma of a freshly baked cake really just takes away the stress from work.

Let us know more about what you do!

Gumazing is for the parent who wants their children to have a balanced diet and proper nutrition. Encouraging your child to cultivate a healthy lifestyle can start from as simple as taking your daily vitamins, and it can also be a fun process with delicious treats like Gumazing’s vitamin gummies!

You may also find us featured on Active Age and Our Parenting World.

Connect with Gumazing!

Website: www.begumazing.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/begumazing

Are you a Fempreneur too?

Connect with us – we’d love to feature you! Say hi to us at [email protected] or reach out to us via our social media.

Read TLC x Fempreneur Series:

• Margaret Wu, For Beloved One
• Nerissa Low, Liht Organics
• Pearline Foo, Spring Breeze Marketing
• Anna Milani, Sparkd
• Maddy Barber, Madly Gems
• Ezza Yusof, 2morrow Official (Malaysia)
• Julie Yim, Lilin+Co (Malaysia)
• Nadia, HelloBello (Malaysia)
• Zairin Azman, UMMA (Malaysia)

The rest of the Fempreneur interviews can be found here.